- •Introduction
- •Unit I. Rule of Law
- •1. Focus on Vocabulary
- •1.1. Choose the best variant and translate the italicized parts.
- •1.2. Fill in the blank spaces to complete the news stories. Do not use the prompts unless necessary.
- •1.3. Translate the following phrases using the words in bold type.
- •1.4. Translate the following sentences into English. Use the functional vocabulary where possible.
- •2. Focus on Texts
- •2.1. Do the following before you read the piece.
- •Freedom and rights
- •Constitutional rights
- •Personal freedoms
- •Legal rights
- •2.2. Suggest the English equivalents.
- •2.3. True or false.
- •2.4. Discussion points.
- •2.5. Using the italicized parts, summarize the articles to follow.
- •1.6. Identify the major human rights issues in the 2.5. Stories. Discuss in groups.
- •3. Focus on Rendering and Translation
- •3.1. Translate the following brief news items paying attention to the italicized parts.
- •Дума предлагает упростить процедуру ликвидации сми
- •Милошевич назвал Гаагский трибунал судом Линча
- •Молдаване не хотят становиться русскими
- •Оон: теракты 11 сентября стали поводом для нарушения прав человека
- •Арабские правозащитники: Израиль "затыкает рот арабскому меньшинству в кнессете"
- •22.10.2002 14:44 Http://lenta.Ru/mideast/2002/10/22/knesset/
- •3.2. Translate the following brief news items into English paying attention to the italicized parts. Новы праект беларускага закону
- •Жаночае лідэрства ў Беларусі
- •За Мікалуцкага просяць15 гадоў турмы
- •25.09.2003 Http://press.Promedia.By
- •3.3. Render the following article into English. Россия и права человека в странах снг
- •3.4. Render the following article into English. В современном Китае лишь несколько идеалистов-правозащитников живут воспоминаниями о трагедии 1989 года
- •3.5. Render the following article into English.
- •3.6. Render the following article into English. Новы закон аб смі заклiканы стаяць на варце iнтарэсаў грамадства I асобы
- •Unit II. Elections
- •Focus on Vocabulary
- •1.1. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions.
- •1.2. Paraphrase the following expressions, using different glossary items.
- •1.3. Read the article below and decide which phrase from the box best fits each space.
- •Tories Face Test on Cow Disease
- •1.4. Piece the phrases together to make complete stories.
- •1.5. Paraphrase or explain the italicised parts of the following sentences.
- •1.6. Translate the following sentences paying special attention to the italicised words.
- •1.7. Translate the following sentences using the functional vocabulary where possible.
- •2. Focus on Texts
- •2.1. Read the article and complete the exercises that follow. Elections to Parliament The Electoral System
- •General Elections
- •2.2. Explain the meaning of the following word combinations in English.
- •2.3. Find the words or word-combinations which collocate with the following.
- •2.4. Questions and points for discussion.
- •2.5. Read the article and complete the exercises that follow. Electoral shock
- •2.6. Find words or word-combinations which mean the same.
- •2.7. Explain the following phrases and translate them into Russian.
- •2.8. Questions and points for discussion.
- •2.9. Read the article and complete the exercises that follow. Busting Turkey’s grey male monopoly
- •2.10. Translate the following word combinations into English.
- •2.11. Questions and points for discussion.
- •2.12. Read the article and complete the exercises that follow.
- •2.13. Translate the following word combinations into Russian and Belarusian.
- •2.14. Points for discussion.
- •3. Focus on Rendering and Translation
- •3.1. Render into English the following brief news items.
- •3.2. Render the following article into English. Казахстан: на выборах все определят колеблющиеся
- •3.3. Render the following article into English. Літва змяніла прэзідэнта
- •3.4. Render the following article into English. Літва ўступае ў ес
- •Revision Test 1
- •Match the words on the right with the words on the left.
- •2. Find the synonyms (left-hand column) and the definitions (right-hand column) of the words in the middle column.
- •3. Correct errors or inaccuracies.
- •Unit III. Visits. Talks. Agreements
- •1. Focus on Vocabulary
- •1.1. Give English equivalents to the following.
- •1.2. Give Russian equivalents to the following geographical names.
- •1.3. Paraphrase according to the model.
- •1.4. Paraphrase or explain the italicised parts of the following sentences.
- •1.5. Choose the best variant and translate the italicised parts.
- •1.6. Complete the table.
- •1.7. Translate into English paying attention to the italicized parts.
- •Focus on Texts Cook warned on Israel visit
- •2.1. Translate the following word combinations into English.
- •2.2. Answer the following questions.
- •2.3. As the article to follow is rather long, read the following questions first to give you an overview of the piece. Then try to answer them.
- •India and Pakistan end summit with pledge to hold more talks
- •2.4. What is the meaning of the following words and word combinations as used in the text?
- •Iraq talks “close to collapse”
- •2.5. Translate the following word combinations into English. Reproduce the situations in which they are used in the text.
- •2.6. Answer the following questions.
- •3. Focus on Rendering and Translation
- •3.1. Translate the following brief news items paying attention to the italicized parts.
- •3.2. Render the following article into English. Нажим приносит плоды Индия согласилась не проводить ядерных испытаний
- •3.3. Render the following article into English. Когда друг в беде
- •3.4. Render the following article into English. Теплые встречи в эмиратах
- •3.5. Render the following article into English. Россия остается в Совете Европы
- •3.6. Render the following article into English. Намёк прэзідэнта Пуціна
- •Unit IV. International Organizations
- •1. Focus on Vocabulary
- •1.1. Paraphrase the following sentences using words and expressions from the glossary.
- •1.2. Fill in the blanks with correct prepositions.
- •1.3. Piece the phrases together to make complete stories.
- •1.4. Translate from English into Russian/Belarusian.
- •1.5. Translate into English.
- •1.6. Fill in the blank spaces to complete the news story. Do not use the prompts unless necessary. Annan says world leaders aren't living up to their millennium pledges
- •1.8. Read the 1.6. Text again and identify major international concerns. Rate them in the order of importance. Explain your choice.
- •2. Focus on Texts
- •2.1. Before you read the following text, do a quiz on the un.
- •How the un Works
- •The General Assembly
- •The Security Council
- •The Economic and Social Council
- •The Trusteeship Council
- •The International Court of Justice
- •The Secretariat
- •The un system
- •2.2. Give English equivalents.
- •2.3. Translate the following word combinations into Russian.
- •2.4. Which statement goes with which un organ? Which un organ is left out?
- •2.5. Go back to the pre-reading quiz and check your answers against the facts in the text.
- •2.6. Points for discussion.
- •2.7. Read the extract from the Official Yearbook of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and complete the exercises that follow.
- •International organisations European Union
- •The Commonwealth
- •North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
- •Group of Eight
- •Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
- •Council of Europe
- •Other International Bodies
- •2.8. Translate into English.
- •2.9. Make the following statements more factually correct.
- •2.10. Below you will find excerpts from the mission statements of four prominent international non-governmental organizations. Discuss the pieces and suggest what these organizations are.
- •Defending press freedom… every day
- •2.11. After-reading tasks and discussion points.
- •3. Focus on Rendering and Translation
- •3.1. Render the news stories into Russian, paying attention to the words in italics. Amnesty Slams un
- •Lebanon Gets Tough
- •Un Help in Congo
- •Kosovo Worries Ivanov
- •3.2. Translate the following brief news items paying attention to the italicized parts. Ультиматум Буша Совбезу оон
- •Мид России поднял грузинский вопрос на уровне оон
- •Кофи Аннан: с терроризмом мы будем воевать, но только вместе
- •Сша передали Совбезу оон новый проект резолюции по Ираку
- •Миротворцев оон в горячих точках заменят на наемников
- •3.3. Translate the following brief news items paying attention to the italicized parts. Падпісаны мемарандум
- •Заява Прэс-сакратара мзс Беларусі ў сувязі з прыняццем Саветам Бяспекі аан рэзалюцыі 1373 аб барацьбе з міжнародным тэрарызмам
- •3.4. Render the following article into English.
- •Оглашены имена злостных неплательщиков всемирного кооператива
- •3.5. Render the following article into English. Оон не избежать перестройки
- •3.6. Render the following article into English. Комиссар берет на прицел Чечню
- •3.7. Render the following article into English. Вопыт Беларусі вывучаюць у Жэневе
- •3.8. Render the following article into English. Прадухілім ядзерную небяспеку
- •3.9. Render the following article into English. Вайна ці мір?
- •Revision test 2
- •Match the words on the left with the definitions on the right.
- •Unit V. Economy Matters
- •1. Focus on Vocabulary
- •1.2. Paraphrase or explain the italicised parts of the following sentences.
- •1.3. Translate the following from English into Russian/Belarusian paying attention to the word combinations in italics.
- •1.4. Translate the following sentences using your topic vocabulary.
- •2. Focus on Texts
- •2.1. Read the following article and complete the exercises that follow. Growth Is Forecast in Rest of Eastern Europe
- •2.6. Read the following article and complete the exercises that follow. Canada Forges Trade Pact With Chile
- •Mexico’s decision to devalue the national currency triggered a political crisis in the usa and turned many of the senators against the very concept of free trade.
- •3. Focus on Rendering and Translation
- •3.1. Render into English the following extracts paying attention to the italicized parts.
- •3.2. Render into English the following extracts paying attention to the italicized parts.
- •3.3. Render into English the following article.
- •Китай не высказывает беспокойства по поводу сохраняющегося отрицательного сальдо в торговле с Беларусью
- •3.4. Render into English the following article. Древние американские законы всем надоели Европейский союз выступил против антидемпинговых процедур
- •3.5. Render into English the following article. У Беларусi I Масквы ёсць усе магчымасцi для паспяховага супрацоўнiцтва
- •3.6. Render into English the following article. «Белрасбанк» павiнен быць карысным для эканомiкi Беларусi
- •Revision test 3
- •Match the words in the left-hand column with the definitions on the right.
- •Translate the following into Russian.
- •Translate the following into English.
- •Unit VI. Natural Disasters
- •1. Focus on Vocabulary
- •1.1. Give the definitions to the following extreme weather events. Add other words you know referring to the topic.
- •1.2. Explain the meaning of the word-combinations.
- •1.3. Translate into Russian/Belarusian paying special attention to the italicized expressions.
- •1.4. Choose the best variant and translate.
- •1.5. Translate into Russian/Belarusian paying special attention to the italicized expressions.
- •1.6. Translate into Russian/Belarusian using the vocabulary from the previous exercises.
- •1.7. Read the four texts to follow and identify the natural disasters discussed. Write out the words and phrases that helped you identify the phenomena.
- •40,000 Evacuated by Denver _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
- •1.8. Translate into English using the following words and word combinations.
- •1.9. Translate the following news briefs paying attention to the italicized parts. Спасательные работы в Северной Осетии приостановлены до 6.30 утра
- •В Гватемале селевым потоком смыто 60 домов
- •На Сахалине произошло землетрясение
- •1.10. Translate the following news briefs paying attention to the italicized parts. На Алтаі адбылося новае землетрасенне
- •Ахвяры ліхаманкі заходняга Ніла
- •2. Focus on Texts
- •2.1. Read the following article and complete the exercises that follow.
- •333 Confirmed dead in Mexico floods
- •2.2. Suggest the Russian/Belarusian equivalents.
- •2.3. Reproduce the situations in which the words and phrases from the above exercise are used.
- •2.4. Work in pairs. Write a summary of the article leaving out the insignificant details (from your point of view). Compare with the summary of your group-mate. What are the differences? Why?
- •2.5. Read the following article and find the English equivalents to the following Russian expressions in the text.
- •2.6. Reproduce the article using the phrases from exercise 2.5.
- •2.7. Read the article and complete the exercises that follow. Etna's plume traced from space
- •2.8. Suggest the English equivalents to the following Russian expressions.
- •2.9. Insert prepositions and particles where necessary, then read the text and check your answers.
- •2.10. Answer the following questions.
- •3. Focus on Rendering and Translation
- •3.1. Render the following article into English. Турецкое эхо Может ли наука предупредить о грозящем землетрясении?
- •3.2. Render the following article into English. Тайфун в Японии: город Нагоя затоплен, 5 человек погибли
- •Render the following article into English. Итальянский остров Стромболи стал необитаемым
- •3.4. Render the following article into English. Павадак у Мексіцы: больш за 600 чалавек загінула
- •3.5. Render the following article into English. «Майсей» уратуе Венецыю
- •3.6 Render the following article into English. Як выжыць ва ўмовах клiматычнага «экстрыму»?
- •Final test
- •Match the beginning of the expression on the right with its end on the left.
- •Appendix 1. Glossary Civil Rights Core Vocabulary
- •Visits. Talks. Agreements Core Vocabulary
- •International Organizations
- •Vocabulary
- •Elections Core Vocabulary
- •Additional Vocabulary
- •Trade Relations Core Vocabulary
- •Natural Disasters Core Vocabulary
- •Appendix 2. Abbreviations
- •Table of Contents
2.2. Explain the meaning of the following word combinations in English.
to stand for election; a system of proportional representation; go to the country; canvassing; marginals; televised news conference; electoral register; exit polls; recount
2.3. Find the words or word-combinations which collocate with the following.
election, seat, vote, party, campaign, voting, ballot
2.4. Questions and points for discussion.
-
What does it take to become an MP?
-
Why is the British electoral system referred to as “first past the post”?
-
Does a winning party need to receive an absolute majority of votes in elections?
-
Which electoral system is fairer: the one the British have in place or a system of proportional representation?
-
Why does an individual willing to stand for Parliament has to leave a deposit with the Returning Officer?
-
Why are by-elections closely watched by the media?
-
What is the purpose of exit polls?
-
What are the functions of the Returning Officer?
-
What do you think elections in Belarus and UK have in common?
2.5. Read the article and complete the exercises that follow. Electoral shock
On October 10 it will be 100 years since Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union, determined to win the battle for the vote. Just 15 years later, British women had the suffrage for which they had shouted and sung and starved and marched.
But there is one country left where women are still engaged in that struggle. Only in Kuwait are women specifically still denied the vote. Only there are women in the demeaning situation of living where there is at least partial democracy – a national assembly elected by popular vote – but the vote is solely male.
"This is unique," says Fatima al-Abdali, a journalist and environmental engineer in Kuwait. "Even in Bahrain, in Qatar, in Oman, women can vote. We have had a democracy for 40 years, but still women don't have this right." It seems all the more ironic because women in Kuwait are taking up directly appointed political posts, including that of ambassador and deputy secretary in the ministry of higher education.
Ever since Kuwait decided to start elections for the national assembly in 1962, women have been lobbying for their rights, and over the past decade the campaign has grown in urgency. Women in Kuwait are now no strangers to street protests. In a country of only 2 million people, activists have managed to call out more than 1000 women on demonstrations. They have also brought legal cases to the highest courts, suing the minister of the interior or the speaker of parliament for failing to register their votes.
"We invade the registration centres, and then we file cases because they don't allow us in," explains Zainab al-Harbi, a leader of the main organisation that campaigns for women's suffrage, the Women's Cultural and Social Society. All the cases so far have failed, but one is still pending in the constitutional court. Mock ballots have also been staged – the last during the elections three months ago – in which fake polling booths are set up so that hundreds of women can place votes for real candidates.
After the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, women thought that they would get the vote on the rise of patriotic feeling that came their way because of the much-admired part they played in the resistance to the Iraqi occupation. And indeed, the invasion did seem to help to change popular feeling about women's suffrage, just as the first world war is credited with having changed feelings about women's suffrage in Britain.
But men's goodwill towards women's political enfranchisement, even for patriotic reasons, can never be taken for granted, and a bill to give women the vote in 1992 was defeated in parliament. A vote in 1999 was the closest yet – the suffrage bill was defeated by only two votes. Dr Ebtehal Ahmad, a lecturer in literature at Kuwait University, says: "I cried like a baby when the proposal was thrown out the last time."
Suffragettes in Britain found that, long after they felt they had won all the arguments, the vote was being used as a bargaining chip in the games of politics. This is exactly what is happening to Kuwaiti women. The government is headed by the Sabah family, but laws must be approved by the national assembly. The emir, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, keeps promising support for a suffrage bill, but his ministers keep failing to push it through. The national assembly is divided – 21 of the 50 members are identified by observers as Islamists, 14 as government supporters, three as liberals, and 12 as non-partisans. In such a finely balanced situation, the government is clearly reluctant to push a controversial measure.
Yet given the vibrancy and justice of their campaign, why don't we hear more about the struggle of the women of Kuwait? Many women in the West seem to believe that it isn't a great idea to be too vociferous in support of women's rights in Muslim countries, in case we should be seen to be interfering in a culture that we don't understand. But the women activists in Kuwait see their situation as something created not by their religion, but simply by the same patriarchal chauvinism that has dogged women in all cultures and all times. "When they say to us, it is not in Islam that women should have political rights, we say, what about Jordan, what about Turkey, what about Iran, what about Egypt? Aren't the women there Muslim, and don't they vote?" says Abdali.
Indeed, women got the vote in Jordan in 1974, and in Iran in 1963, Egypt in 1956 and Turkey 1930 - just two years after women in the UK.
Abdali believes international pressure and support is essential for their cause. But Harbi is fiercely proud of the ability of Kuwaiti women alone to achieve their goals. "We don't need others to help. We don't have a problem campaigning and lobbying for our rights," she says. Still, even she believes that exposure of her government to international media interest and pressure from other governments would only help.
Although they are yet to get the vote, women in Kuwait are in other ways quite liberated. They have long enjoyed the right to education – more than 70% of university graduates are now women, and Abdali says proudly, "It is impossible to find an illiterate Kuwaiti woman." They have complete freedom of dress and movement, so they can walk down the streets in a veil or jeans, and they can drive and travel without men giving them permission, which is certainly not the case in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
So the situation of Kuwaiti women, in its contradictory mixture of growing power and continued powerlessness, is not so different from other cultures. This idea that there is no fundamental separation between the feminist movements of different countries is dear to most of the Kuwaiti women I spoke to. "Women can learn from each other all over the world," says Dr Ahmad. "There are some cultural differences, but the feminist movement is always at core very similar. Every country goes through bad patches with regard to women's rights. Look at your own culture – there was a time when women were burned as witches."
· New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote – in 1893.
· Three countries deny both men and women a vote: Brunei, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
· In the US, native Americans who lived on reservations were not granted the right to vote until 1924, four years after other US women.
· Puerto Rican women did not win suffrage until 1929, when it was granted only to "literate women". They won universal suffrage in 1935.
· In Australia, white women won the vote in 1902. Aboriginal women, and men, had to wait until 1967, when they were granted full citizenship.
· In South Africa, white women won the vote in 1931, Indian and "coloured" women in 1984, and black women in 1994.
· In Denmark, men and women were both given the vote in 1915.
· France saw a gap of 96 years between male and female suffrage. Men got the vote in 1848 and women in 1944.
· Swiss women were only allowed in voting booths in 1971.
· Bahrain is the most recent country to give women the vote – in 2001.
Economist. 2002. 4 September.